Playing Santa is a treat for man

Friday

Dec 25, 2009 at 12:01 AM

BY JILL DOSS-RAINES The Dispatch

WELCOME | If someone had told Tony Mack Leonard more than 18 years ago that he would don a red suit trimmed in white fur each year for the North Davidson Library branch's annual holiday party, he would have "ba humbugged" right in their face.Leonard really isn't a Scrooge, but the idea of putting on the hot suit, white wig and beard and those black leather boots just didn't appeal to him. And how would he relate to all those children telling him what they wanted for Christmas? And he didn't fancy himself an actor, shouting out a loud "ho, ho, ho" to make the experience more real for the children.But just like Frosty the Snowman's black top hat, there must be magic in Leonard's Santa hat. For when he places it on his head, he transforms into the jolly ole St. Nick and loves it."His personality changes when he puts on that suit," said Phyllis Leonard, his wife of 48 years. "He really gets into it."Phyllis is why Leonard got roped into the Christmas gig each year at the library 18 years ago. Then, she was a library technician at the North Davidson branch, and they needed a Santa to entertain the children, listen to their wish list and pose for pictures during the library's annual holiday event. Phyllis must have been awfully persuasive because her husband, a Welcome volunteer firefighter who was then a mechanic at R.J. Reynolds and did all sorts of other "manly" things, said he would do it.Today, he wouldn't give up his Santa time for anything."I enjoy the small kids and all and listening to them talk about what they want. It brings back the good ole days," he said, referring to when he and Phyllis' two grown children and grandchildren were young. "I just love babies."Phyllis goes with Leonard each year to the library. She helps hand out candy canes after each child tells Santa their Christmas wish list. She is also a good compromise for the children who are too scared to sit on Santa's lap for a photo. Most of those frightened children will allow Phyllis to hold them and stand beside Santa while their photos are taken.Still he occasionally sees a child who is OK until they realize they are in Santa's arms. Oh, then they start the screaming and almost climb over his shoulders trying to get away, he said."Tony looks so cute in his suit," Phyllis said. "I don't see how they can be afraid."Each year, Leonard said he looks forward to his time playing Santa. And there are always some funny stories to add to his memory book. Like this past Dec. 8, when he couldn't leave the library although the party was over because a couple of small children wanted to see him leave in his sleigh with reindeer."She (Phyllis) told them I had my sleigh and reindeer parked out back," he said. "So they wouldn't leave. They wanted to see it. ... Finally, they had to run them off so I could go."Although most of the stories and experiences are happy, occasionally Leonard hears a request that breaks his heart. One instance like that was when a 14-year-old girl sat on his lap to give her wish list."I asked her what she wanted, and she said nothing but for 'her parents to get back together,'" Leonard said. "Oh, Santie about lost it. That hurt one of the worst."There are some children who have come so many years to see him at the library that they are now teenagers, and even a few are in college. Leonard is even entertaining the children of people who were once youngsters sitting on his lap."They all tickle you to death with the things they say," he said.When he is not playing Santa, Leonard still volunteers at the Welcome Volunteer Fire Department, is involved with his church, Center United Methodist, and plays golf and bowls each week. He also loves to ride his Kubota tractors."I'll be doing this until I die, or they run me off," he said of playing Santa. "They've already asked me back for next year."Jill Doss-Raines can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 219, or at jill.doss-raines@the-dispatch.com.